The reference site for CYCLOSPORIN

Ciclosporin, also spelled cyclosporine and cyclosporin, is an immunosuppressant medication and natural product.

WHAT IS CYCLOSPORIN?

This new site is dedicated exclusively to cyclosporin.

It provides you with the most extensive product information and up-to-date resources regarding this medication, including related news articles, medical studies, an image library and all the necessary information on dosage and side effects.

Whether you are an average consumer or a pharma industry professional, you can now find out everything you need to know about cyclosporin on this reference site, as well as take part in our open discussion forum by sharing your own knowledge and experience with people who are using this medication.

This unique site will also offer you inside industry news on which companies or organizations are playing an important part in its research, development, production and promotion. It is your one-stop site for a total cyclosporin experience!

Product Info

The sections below will provide you with more specific information and guidelines related to cyclosporin and its correct use. Please read them carefully.

FDA Information

The immuno-suppressive effect of cyclosporin was discovered on January 31st, 1972, by employees of Sandoz (now Novartis) in Basel, Switzerland, in a screening test on immune-suppression designed and implemented by Hartmann F. Stähelin. Cyclosporin was subsequently approved for use in 1983.

Cyclosporin, ciclosporine (USAN) or cyclosporine (former BAN), is an immunosuppressant drug widely used for post-allogeneic organ transplants to reduce the activity of the patient’s immune system and the risk of organ rejection. It has also been studied in transplants of skin, heart, kidney, lung, pancreas, bone marrow and small intestine.

Cyclosporin may be used in combination with other immunosuppressants and steroid medications.

Other uses for this medicine

Apart from transplant medicine, cyclosporin is also used in psoriasis and infrequently in rheumatoid arthritis and related diseases, although it is only used in severe cases. It has been investigated for use in many other autoimmune disorders.

Also, it is often taken in conjunction with corticosteroids. Cyclosporin has also been used to help treat patients with ulcerative colitis who do not respond to treatment with steroids.

Additionally, cyclosporin A has been investigated as a possible neuroprotective agent in conditions such as traumatic brain injury, and has been shown in animal experiments to reduce brain damage associated with injury. Cyclosporin A blocks the formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which has been found to cause much of the damage associated with head injury and neurodegenerative diseases.

Dosage and using this medicine

This medication is given by injection or taken orally.

Take cyclosporin exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist to explain them to you.

Take cyclosporin at the same time(s) each day and in the same relation to meals. For example, take your medication always with a meal, always 1 hour before a meal, or always 1 hour after a meal. Food can alter the amount of cyclosporin that gets absorbed into your body, and it is important to keep your routine as consistent as possible. Take each dose with a full glass of water.

The Sandimmune® oral solution can be mixed with milk, chocolate milk, or orange juice at room temperature. The Neoral® oral solution can be mixed with apple or orange juice at room temperature – it should not be mixed with milk. To regulate your doses, try to mix your medication with the same beverage as often as possible. Measure the required amount with the syringe provided, then transfer it to the beverage. Use a glass container, not a plastic one, to hold the mixture. Stir well, then drink the mixture immediately. Do not allow it to stand. Put some more of the beverage into the same glass, swirl it around, and drink this too. This process will ensure that you get all of the cyclosporin that is prescribed for you.

To ensure that you get a correct dose, measure the liquid form of cyclosporin with the syringe provided. Do not rinse the syringe before or after use. Even the smallest bit of water will alter the dose of cyclosporin that you measure, and variations in the dose could become dangerous. If the syringe needs to be rinsed, be sure that it is completely dried before measuring a dose.

Do not mix Sandimmune® or Neoral® with grapefruit juice unless specifically directed otherwise by your doctor. Cyclosporin can interact with grapefruit and grapefruit juice and the interaction may have dangerous effects. You should discuss the use of grapefruit and grapefruit juice with your doctor.

Furthermore, your doctor will probably want you to have regularly scheduled blood tests and other medical evaluations during treatment with cyclosporin to monitor progress and side effects.

Please note that although Sandimmune® and Neoral® are both brands of cyclosporin, they do not provide equivalent doses. Do not switch brands of this medication without first talking to your doctor. A dosage adjustment is necessary when you switch brands.

What special precautions should I follow?

BEFORE TAKING CYCLOSPORIN:

Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, high blood pressure, a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection, undergone treatment with PUVA, UVB, methotrexate (Rheumatrex®, Immunex®), coal tar, radiation, or other immunosuppressants, or any other serious or chronic medical condition. You may not be able to take cyclosporin, or you may require a lower dose or special monitoring if you have any of the conditions listed above.

Moreover, inform your doctor and dentist that you are taking this medication before having surgery, before starting any other medication, and before receiving any vaccinations.

There are many drug/drug interactions with cyclosporin and you should tell your doctor of any medication you are taking or plan on taking, including herbal products. The interaction could alter cyclosporin levels causing a decrease in effectiveness or an increase in side effects. The side effects or effectiveness of the other drugs may also be altered.

Cyclosporin is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether cyclosporin will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant or become pregnant Dur ring treatment.

Moreover, cyclosporin passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing infant. Cyclosporin is not recommended for use during breast-feeding. Do not take cyclosporin without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Cyclosporin can lower the activity of the immune system making you more susceptible to infection. Avoid contact with people who have colds, the flu, or other contagious illnesses. In addition, do not receive vaccines that contain a live strain of the virus (e.g., live oral polio vaccine) and avoid contact with individuals who have recently been vaccinated with a live virus. Notify your doctor at the first sign of fever, chills, or a sore throat.

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed, and take only your next regularly scheduled dose.

Do not take a double dose of this medication unless otherwise directed by your doctor. Notify your doctor if you miss a dose of this medication.

What side effects can this medication cause?

Notify your doctor immediately if you develop fever or chills, a sore throat, unusual bleeding or bruising, mouth sores, abdominal pain, pale stools, or darkened urine. These symptoms could be early signs of dangerous side effects.

If you experience any of the following serious side effects, stop taking cyclosporin and seek emergency medical attention or contact your doctor immediately:

Immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporin increase your risk of certain types of cancer, such as lymphomas or skin cancer. Ask you doctor about the risks and benefits of cyclosporin in your treatment.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What storage conditions are needed for this medicine?

Always keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture (not in the bathroom). Do not store this medicine in the refrigerator and do not freeze it.

Remember to throw away any medication that is outdated or no longer needed. Throw away any remaining solution 2 months after you first open the bottle. If you have any questions, consult your pharmacist about the proper disposal of your medication.

In case of an emergency/overdose

In the case of an overdose, call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. If the victim has collapsed or is not breathing, please call the local emergency services immediately on 911.

Note: Symptoms of a cyclosporin overdose are not known.

Product Images

PICTURES OF CYCLOSPORIN PILLS

Below you will find images and specific information on the principal types of cyclosporin that exist, including their respective brand name(s), strength, inscription codes, manufacturers and/or distributors.

The information below includes general information and guidelines for patients taking this medication and should never be used to substitute professional medical advice that can be provided by a qualified physician or family doctor.